Jul 19, 2019

Blast from the Past: Family Pictures

The bigger my family gets, the harder it becomes to have a family picture taken. We have had plans at least a half dozen times over the last couple of years and then something comes up and someone can't be there, so we cancel and try to arrange something new. We actually have a pretty tight plan for July 28. We'll see what happens...

My parents didn't have that problem. We only had one real family portrait taken the entire time I was growing up although there are a few that were done at family gatherings and weddings afterward. When my oldest brother was getting ready to go on his mission, my mom pleaded with my dad to make it happen. She was afraid the family would splinter while he was gone for two years, and she was right. I'm pretty sure he left for his mission in 1980 and my sister was married in 1982, but by then my other brother was off on his mission.

But this post is about the picture...

I don't remember the photographer, but I do remember driving to Manti and going up around the back of the temple to pose on the back steps. Li'l Sis truly was little then. She is the smallest in the red dress. I'm on the far right, standing next to my dad. My mom made that tux for my brother to wear to prom that year and just for the record, I made my own dress.

It was a crazy, out of the ordinary summer day when we all donned our church clothes. Even Dad. And we spent time together doing something important that would last through the generations. We were being a family.

3 comments:

Rockey said...

I don't know if you remember, but that was the worst day ever! It was blazing hot, the photographer was late, and I lost a button off my vest (which Mom also made). If you look at our faces, you can see just how "sick" of this experience we were. You are about the only one who could manage a smile!

~R

Unknown said...

She made my dress too and I am smiling!!!

~D

LeAnn said...

Thanks for sharing your families photo and how it finally happened. The photos we took for our reunion 3 years ago was probably the only time I will get them all together again. We now take separate family ones. I have a post I'm getting ready to do on our past reunion this month. I do love lots of photos, and I will pray you the one on the 28th.
Blessings and hugs!